Page 8 - True Gospel Evangelism

John 1:11-13

John 1:11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as

received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God.”

The common teaching on v. 11 and 12 is that if you will believe or accept Jesus as
your personal savior you will become a child of God. The vast majority who teach
this do not quote v. 13. The gist of their teaching is that v. 11 and 12 teach that if you
will just receive (accept) Jesus through believing that he offered himself and his sacri-

fice to you as a payment for your sins and accept his offering, then he will cause you
to be born of the Spirit, save you from your sins, and give you eternal life.

However, the above sentence does not end with verse 12 but continues on unto the

end of verse 13. Verse 13 destroys the common teaching on verses 11 and 12. The
phrase “which were born” indicates there was a birth prior to “believing on his
name.” This birth we are told was “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man.” Plainly, this birth was not the result of a blood sacrifice or a blood

relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Also, this birth was not the result of a
desire (will) of our flesh to be born again. Moreover, it was not of the choice (will)
of man to be born again. Man’s free will is completely ruled out as a cause of this
birth. Again, we are plainly told that this birth was of God.

The grammar in the above passage leads us to the conclusion that we were born of
God prior to believing on Jesus name. Since we were born of God prior to believing
on his name, then we were children of God by spiritual birth prior to believing on his

name. Believing on his name, therefore, cannot be the cause of our becoming chil-
dren of God. What then does it mean in verse 12 that he gave us, who believe, power
to become sons of God? The answer is found for us in Matt. 5:44-48: 44 “But I say
unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate

you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may
be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the
evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love
them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the pub-
licans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is per-
fect.”